NGAAP-Charlotte members Valaida Fullwood (l) and Charles Thomas (r) with Dr. Emmett Carson
CHARLOTTE, NC – Over 300 guests gathered at the Bank of America Center in Charlotte on Tuesday, August 5 for ‘What’s Community Got To Do With It?,’ a civic engagement forum that featured an engaging and bold keynote from Dr. Emmett Carson, renowned thought leader in philanthropy and president and CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Hosted by New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP-Charlotte) giving circle in observance of Black Philanthropy Month 2014 (BPM2014), the event’s aim was to provide guests with new insight and inspiration to make positive and lasting impact on their communities.
Prior to the event, a pre-reception was held at Urban Sip at The Ritz-Carlton with guests Dr. Ron Carter, President of Johnson C. Smith University; David Taylor, President of Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture; Michael Marsicano, PhD, CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas; and Patrick Graham, President of National Urban League of Central Carolinas, among other nonprofit and community leaders.
Eric Montgomery, Athan Lindsay, member of Next Generation of African American Philanthropists giving circle
and Darryl Lester, member of Next Generation of African American Philanthropists and
founder, Community Investment Network
and Darryl Lester, member of Next Generation of African American Philanthropists and
founder, Community Investment Network
Patrick Graham, President of National Urban League of Central Carolinas, David Taylor,
President of Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and
President of Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and
Patton McDowell, President of PMA Consulting, LLC
Michael Marsicano, PhD, CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas; Sharon Harrington, JD, AVP for Institutional Advancement at Johnson C. Smith University;
and Ronald Carter, PhD, President of Johnson C. Smith University
The forum began with a reading of the proclamation to kick off Black Philanthropy Month in Charlotte, followed by Dr. Carson’s BPM2014 talk that included a history of black philanthropy and its role in building the African American community; and his thoughts on the current state of black organizations, black males and black giving. His words resonated with many who shared on social media:
Community had everything to do with the past of Black Philanthropy.. #BPM2014
— Adrian L. Gainey (@aLou_gainey) August 5, 2014History of #blackphilanthropy = schools, insurance, civil rights movement, Brown v. Board, community... #BPM2014
— Deepa Naik (@deepajnaik) August 5, 2014"AA make up 1/2 of prison population. Prisons are the new economic engine for rural areas." Dr. Emmett Carson What a statement. #BPM2014
— Meka S (@serenatorez) August 5, 2014
Dr. Emmett Carson
Community is thriving .. Black orgs are dying - Dr. Carson .. The present #blackphilanthropy#BPM2014
— Deepa Naik (@deepajnaik) August 5, 2014"As a collective group and using technology we can really make an impact on our issues and orgs" @emmettcarson#BPM2014, #realtalk
— Ivan Canada (@g_i_can) August 5, 2014Dr. Emmett Carson on Black Philanthropy-"We have the money, we have the smarts & we better make the time." #BPM2014
— PEEP (@PEEPCharlotte) August 5, 2014
Clarence Lyons, NGAAP member and member of National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) with
fellow NSBE Charlotte Chapter members, an event sponsor.
Event sponsors included Bank of America Black Professional Network, Bank of America Diversity and Inclusion, Foundation For The Carolinas and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture. For more takeaways from the event and happenings during Black Philanthropy Month, follow #BPM2014.
About New Generation of African American Philanthropists
Founded in June 2006, NGAAP-Charlotte is a giving circle with members who share values around philanthropy and pool charitable dollars to give back to the community. Its mission is to promote philanthropy – the giving of time, talent and treasure – among African Americans in the Charlotte region with the goal of enhancing the quality of life within their communities. NGAAP is a member of Community Investment Network and is hosted at the Foundation for the Carolinas. For more information, contact Ed Franklin at efrankli@yahoo.com.